On Sunday, 14 July the Chapel Society and the Sacré Coeur Association of NSW welcomed over one hundred guests including Alumnae, past parents and members of the wider community, to the KRB Chapel for a very special Organ Recital by Dr John Joseph (JJ) Mitchell.   Living in Virginia, USA, this was JJ’s first visit to Australia and his only recital with a program to showcase the special features of our historic organ.

JJ studied at Westminster Choir College and graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Sacred Music and then completed his Masters of Sacred Music in Organ Performance from the University of Notre Dame.  JJ has also studied at the Conservatoire á Rayonnement Régional de Toulouse (France) before completing a Doctor of Musical Arts in Organ Performance from the University of Houston, Texas USA.  It is here that he wrote his thesis on “The Great Toulousain Dynasty”, the Puget family of organ builders.  Despite not having seen it, JJ included the organ in the KRB Chapel as one of the five significant instruments the Puget family built.

JJ presented a lecture on his studies of the Puget organ encompassing the history, evolution and legacy of Théodore Puget, followed by a recital where he exhibited the full musical capacity of our organ.  The concert programme included:

Prelude in E-flat Major BWV 552a – Johann Sebastian Bach

“Andante Sostenuto” from Symphonie No. 9 Op. 70 – Charles-Marie Widor

“Lied” from 24 Pieces en Stile Libre Op. 31 – Louis Vierne

Carillon Op. 2 – John J. Mitchell

Reverie – William Grant Still

Fugue in E-flat Major BWV 552b – Johann Sebastian Bac

Thank you to Ann Henderson (Lynch, K 1958), President of the Chapel Society who organized this wonderful event.  In lieu of a fee for this event, donations were gratefully received by the Sacré Coeur Association for their Bursary fund.